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Gurjars step up agitation, call Delhi bandh tomorrow
New Delhi, June 3 (PTI) The Gurjars, who are agitating for ST status in Rajasthan, today decided to intensify their stir and gave a call for a 'bandh' (shutdown) in Delhi tomorrow, threatening to seal all entry points to the Capital.
The decision was taken by the Gurjar Mahapanchayat, a congregation of community leaders, here as their talks with the Rajasthan government to end the week-long standoff showed no signs of resolution.
With the agitation in Rajasthan taking a violent turn and leading to bloody clashes with the police and members of the Meena community, Gurjar leaders stressed the shutdown tomorrow will be peaceful.
"Gurjars had been at the forefront of all struggles since 1857. But today it is the time to fight for ourselves. But, we do not want violence and the demonstrations will be peaceful" former MLA Gopi Chand Gurjar told PTI.
Sporadic incidents of violence like stone-pelting and minor clashes with police were witnessed in the last two days as angry Gurjars hit the streets here to protest police firing on their tribesmen in Rajasthan.
The national executive of the Akhil Bharatiya Gurjar Mahasabha which met here, also lashed out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her initial "unwillingness" to talk to community leaders to find a solution to the row.
Gurjar, who is the Mahasabha spokesman, also accused both Congress and the BJP of trying to break their agitation.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police have stepped up vigil at all border points and deployed additional security personnel to prevent any untoward incident. PTI
Gurjar-Meena clashes fallout of lack of opportunities: Meira
Kolkata, Jun 3 (PTI) The clashes between Gurjars and Meenas over the formers' demand for scheduled tribe status was a fallout of lack of opportunities and space for the backward people, Union minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Meira Kumar said here today.
"In Rajasthan everyone is seeking reservation, each community wants reservation for themselves. It is a fight for opportunities and space that is happening in the state," Kumar said at a seminar to mark her father Babu Jagjivan Ram's birth centenary.
Meenas, an ST community having substantial representation in political parties and the government, have been opposing any addition to the ST list as demanded by the Gurjars.
Left Front Chairman in West Bengal Biman Bose blamed the BJP government for allegedly going back on its promise to accord ST status to the Gurjars.
"They (BJP) had promised four years ago that the Gurjars will be given ST status. But they have failed to do so and this has led to the present volatile situation in Rajasthan," Bose said.
Union Heavy Industries Minister Santosh Mohan Dev and eminent educationist Dr Pratap Chandra Chandra also spoke on the occasion reminiscing Babu Jagjivan's fight for and contribution to social justice and his visions of a casteless society and equality in India. PTI
Major heroin seizures in Delhi over the weekend
New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) In major narcotic seizures in the Capital during the weekend, four Afghan nationals were arrested, allegedly with high-quality heroin worth crores of rupees in the international market in separate incidents.
Three Afghani nationals were caught from near Airline Hotel on Qutub Road yesterday and 4.6 kg of heroin at a street value of around Rs five crore seized from them, police said today.
The arrests came after police received a tip off that two Afghan nationals -- Mohd Nazir and Fazal Haq -- would come near the hotel to hand over the consignment to one Mohd Rahim.
As the duo arrived to hand over the drug, a waiting police team caught them and on search of Nazir, five packets of heroin were reovered which he was carrying in a belt made of cloth and tied to the waist.
Interrogation revealed that both Nazir and Haq arrived here on Kam Air flight from Kabul yesterday with the contraband, police, said adding Rahim came to the capital on May 31 to set up a base in the capital.
Police said Nazir has come to India for the first time while he had visited Iran many times.
Another Afghan national, whose identity has not been revealed yet, was arrested by Customs officials at the International Airport here, allegedly with four kilograms of heroin.
He arrived here by a Kam Air flight yesterday morning from Kabul, official sources said. The contraband seized from him has a street value of around Rs four crore, they said.
Police suspect that the four are part of an international drug cartel and investigations are on to ascertain this. PTI
Indo-US N-talks: Focus now on Singh-Bush meeting
New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) Discussions on civil nuclear deal are expected to be high on agenda of the talks that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have with US President George W Bush in Germany this week on the sidelines of the G-8 Summit.
Singh will undertake a four-day visit to Berlin from Wednesday to attend the Summit that will discuss issues like climate change and trade and investment.
Focus has shifted to the meeting between Singh and Bush in the context of civil nuclear deal after negotiators of the two countries were unable to resolve all differences on the proposed "123 agreement" in the latest round of talks that concluded here yesterday.
Singh and Bush are expected to give a political push at the highest level to enable the negotiations on the complex agreement to move forward.
The three-day talks between Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns could not result in any breakthrough due to persisting differences, particularly on whether or not India should have the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel.
The issue of climate change is also expected to figure prominently in the meeting between Singh and Bush, in the backdrop of the latter's remarks that India, along with China, produces most greenhouse gas emissions.
New Delhi has serious objections to being solely blamed for affecting the environment and Singh is expected to convey to Bush that greenhouse gas emissions in India were linked to its energy security, a senior official said here. PTI
British troops may be pulled out of Iraq by year end
London, June 3 (PTI) Britain may withdraw its troops from Iraq by this year end.
The country's commanders based in Iraq have already chalked out a plan to allow Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown to approve the withdrawal of almost all British troops by December this year, according to media reports.
The British commander in southern Iraq, Major-General Jonathan Shaw, had produced a 'commander's tactical advice' in this regard several weeks ago, The Sunday Times reported here today, quoting defence sources.
The advice was addressed to Lieutenant-General Nick Houghton, the chief of joint operations, in London after the Ministry of Defence had asked for options that could be presented to Brown when he takes over as Prime Minister on June 27.
Brown is also due to fly to Iraq to be briefed by Shaw and other commanders on when Britain's 5,500 troops should be pulled out of Iraq.
Shaw's "tactical advice" was endorsed by the senior most British officer in Iraq, Lieutenant-General Graeme Lamb, who is also the deputy coalition commander based in Baghdad.
The advice referred to the United Kingdom's success in training the Iraqi security forces in the south of the country, but is also understood to have highlighted the danger of staying in Basra for too long.
British troops were due to pull back from two bases to one in the city but have been under constant siege from the mortar and rocket attacks by insurgents. PTI
Kapil flays senior players for lobbying for Whatmore
New Delhi, June 3 (PTI) A strong advocate of having an Indian coach for the national team, former captain Kapil Dev has lambasted senior cricketers for reportedly lobbying for a foreigner.
Kapil was apparently baffled by the fact that though they had never worked with Australian Dav Whatmore, the senior players threw their weight behind the him, after he opted against an extension of his contract with the Bangladesh team after the World Cup.
"The players have never worked with Whatmore, how can they recommend his name," a miffed Kapil told 'Aaj Tak'.
He was against the preference for a foreign coach and if the trend continued, he said, "One day, things will be such than Sachin (Tendulkar), VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly will be in contention for the coach's job but would never get it." During the recent Bangladesh tour, Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Anil Kumble reportedly met BCCI President Sharad Pawar and requested him to get a foreigner to take over as the new coach.
Kapil felt projecting Whatmore as the front-runner for the job undermined the authority of the seven-member committee which meets in Bangalore tomorrow.
Headed by BCCI President Sharad Pawar, the committee includes former captains S Venkataraghavan, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.
"The committee has several greats in it and the selection of the coach should be left entirely to them. If the BCCI has already made up its mind on someone, then what is the purpose of having this committee?" Kapil said. PTI
Randhawa rises, Kapur slides at Celtic Open
Celtic Manor, June 3 (PTI) Jyoti Randhawa recovered from a poor start to return a one-under 68 and move up to the tied 29th position, while Shiv Kapur had another disappointing day as he carded a two-over 71 to slip to the tied 61st spot after the penultimate round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open here.
Randhawa's 68 took his three-day total to four-under 203, but Kapur stood one-over 208 after the disappointing show.
Randhawa made a bad start with bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes. A birdie on the sixth hole was followed by a bogey on the eighth as he made the tun two-over.
He then staged a remarkable comeback, playing out a flawless back nine studded with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th.
In contrast, Kapur had another testing day with four bogeys, two on either side of the turn, and two birdies on back nine for a two-over 71 that put him in tied 61st place, down from overnight 58th.
Meanwhile, Welshman Bradley Dredge, two time winner on European Tour, put himself in position to become the first Welsh winner of his country's National Open.
Dredge goes into the last round in the final grouping of the day, tied at 10-under 197 with German Martin Kaymer. Both players carded four-under 65s on a sunny Saturday.
There are 12 players within three shots of the leading pair. The closest challengers -- South Africa's Richard Sterne (64) and overnight leader Dane Mads Vibe-Hastrup (68) -- are on nine-under 198. PTI
India needs to build 26,300 housing units a day: NHB
Mumbai, Jun 3 (PTI) India needs to build a whopping 26,300 housing units per day all through the 11th Five-year plan period to mitigate the housing requirements of all segments of the population.
The National Housing Bank has estimated an additional housing requirement of 45 million units for both rural and urban areas in the country during the 11 th plan period, ending 2012.
This would require an investment to the tune of Rs 10 lakh crore, NHB said in a recently-published report on the basis of the performance of the banks of the previous five years starting from 1999-2000 financial year.
The report cuts a sorry figure of the coverage of the housing finance system of the country. Economically weaker sections, which require almost 80 per cent of the total demand, remain deprived.
Analysing the performance of banks in housing finance over a period of five years from 1999-00 to 2004-05, the report reveals that loan disbursements went up by 68 per cent during the period to Rs 86,034 crore from Rs 58,623 crore.
However, the share for rural areas in the total housing finance had remained constant at 10.3 per cent and share of semi-urban areas declined from 22.4 per cent to 15.4 per cent, whereas it went up to 47.3 percent in 2005 in metropolitan areas from 37.2 per cent in 2000. PTI
After tourism, Malaysia emerges as a property destination
Kuala Lumpur, June 3 (PTI) Already a popular tourist destination, Malaysia now plans to turn itself into an international property destination.
The East Asian country is expecting foreign investments of at least USD 5.8 billion (20 bn ringet) within 10 years in the real estate sector, reports said here today.
Malaysia has a scheme for foreigners to settle in this country under its "Malaysia my second home" project where by the person is given a ten year multiple entry visa and can buy a house besides other benefits.
Several Indian nationals have also opted for this scheme.
The construction boom is largely evident across the Malaysian capital where over a year dozens of high rise apartments and office complexes are coming up.
The high-impact project is expected to create more jobs and have a positive impact on the stock market, Minister in the Prime Minister's department Effendi Norwawi was quoted by media reports here as saying.
Real estate and business services sub sector has surged 27.8 per cent from 4.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2006, he said adding that the services sector was expanding at 9.6 per cent up from 6.6 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
The sector contributed 54 per cent to gross domestic product, the New Straits Time said.
The construction industry has been making good progress registering a four per cent growth.
Observing that the composite index's year-on-year growth was 31.2 per cent, the highest growth rate achieved in the past 13 years, Effendi said all indicators showed that this streak was not going to stop soon. PTI
India-UK trade to touch 1.5 bn pounds by 2010: report
New Delhi, June 3 (PTI) Trade between India and the United Kingdom (UK) is poised to reach 1.5 billion pounds by 2010 from the current level of 900 million pounds, led by sectors like healthcare, pharma, automotive, infrastructure and financial services, FICCI and Yes Bank said in a yet-to-be released report.
The study outlines huge opportunities for British pharmaceutical companies to invest in India in areas such as research and development alliances, contract research and manufacturing (CRAM).
The report -- Strategic Knowledge and Economic Partnerships: India and UK -- also pointed at alliances for holding clinical trials in India, joint ventures for co-production of generics, process outsourcing, co-marketing alliances and data processing.
The study would be released at the FICCI-International Indian Film Academy Global Business Forum (GBF) at Leeds, UK on June 7, the chamber president Habil Khorakiwala said in a statement.
A 60-member FICCI delegation, led by the chamber President, is embarking on a three-day mission to the UK for the forum, the statement said.
The forum will have sessions on various areas of cooperation including clean energy, environment and sustainable development, ICT and telecom, entertainment, manufacturing, agri business and healthcare, pharma and biotechnology. PTI
UB Group starts talks with FIs to fund Air Deccan acquisition
New Delhi, June 3 (PTI) Vijay Mallya-promoted UB Group, which has acquired 26 per cent stake in Air Deccan for Rs 550 crore and is to buy another 20 per cent through an open offer, has initiated talks with financial institutions to fund the takeover.
UB Holdings has only four weeks time to tie up funds and the process of talks with financial institutions have begun, UB Group Chief Financial Officer Ravi Nedungadi told PTI over phone.
"In another three week's time, we should be able to finalise," he said, however, declining to name the financial institutions the group was currently talking to.
Last week, Mallya's UB Group paid an advance of Rs 150 crore toward the 26 per cent stake -- which would be through an issue of 96,77,419 fully paid-up equity shares.
The remaining amount would be paid to Air Deccan's promoter Deccan Aviation Ltd in the coming four weeks. The transaction had valued Air Deccan at Rs 155 a share.
Asked about market reports on Anil Ambani Group's interest in picking up stake in Kingfisher Airlines, he said there was no such development.
"We are not talking to them nor they have approached us. We are talking only to financial institutions," he added.
UB Group's acquisition of stake in Deccan Aviation will make Kingfisher and Air Deccan formidable opponents of Jet Airways, which took over Air Sahara, and the merged entity of Air India and Indian.
Kingfisher and Air Deccan will have a combined fleet of 71 aircraft and 70 destinations and would have over 30 per cent of the Indian aviation market. PTI
Harry to join troops in Afghanistan
London, Jun 3 (PTI) Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, will serve in Afghanistan this summer, defence officials have said.
Plans have been finalised for Harry to fulfill his ambition of serving in a war zone. Details of which regiment he will accompany will not be made public, but his likely brief will be to help train the Afghan army in the country's notorious Helmand province, the officials have said.
The 22-year-old prince was due to be deployed in Iraq this month until the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, admitted it was too dangerous, both for him and his fellow soldiers.
According to the Observer, it is likely Harry will be accompanied in Afghanistan by a small group of officers from his own regiment.
Although forces in Afghanistan remain engaged in hostilities-- two more British troops were killed in Helmand last week-- the threat to Harry is considered far less excessive than that posed by Iraq. PTI
India, Canada finalise pact on foreign investment promotion
Toronto, June 3 (PTI) India and Canada have finalised an agreement that would boost economic ties between them and safeguard investors' rights in both countries.
The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), expected to be signed soon, "will boost economic relations between the two countries and is viewed as a stepping stone to a full-fledged free-trade accord," Indian High Commissioner to Canada R L Narayan said yesterday, inaugurating the Toronto Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
"New Delhi-Ottawa relations are improving, and forthcoming visit of Commerce Minister Kamal Nath to Canada later this month will further strengthen bilateral ties," he said.
"The agreement, designed to protect investors by defining their legally binding rights and obligations, will give new impetus to Indo-Canada economic relations," he said.
The pact would intensifying investment flows to the mutual benefit of both countries and create favourable condition for investment by investors in each other's country, Narayan said.
The creation of the Toronto Chapter was an indication of the capability and competence of the Indian professional community in Canada. "By bringing together the member of the ICAI living in the Greater Toronto Area, the chapter will not only foster the professional links but also promote fellowship and partnership among its members," Narayan added. PTI
2 killed, over 200 injured as strong quake hits China
Beijing, June 3 (PTI) At least two people were killed and over 200 injured after a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 hit an autonomous county in southwest China's Yunnan Province early today.
The earthquake shook the old town of Hani and Yi Autonomous County of Ning'er in Pu'er City at 5:34 a.M. (2:56 a.M. IST), with the epicentre at 23.0 degrees north latitude and 101.1 degrees east longitude, the China Earthquake Administration said.
According to latest reports, the quake has left two people dead, 15 seriously injured and 192 others slightly hurt in the county, about 80 kilometres from the city centre, Xinhua news agency quoted rescuers as saying.
Some houses near the county collapsed and roads are severely destroyed. The communication network, and water and power supplies to the county are also affected.
The government of Pu'er City has allocated one million yuan for disaster relief. The provincial civil affairs department are sending 2,000 tents, 2,000 quilts and 2,000 items of clothes to the stricken area.
Ning'er County, covering an area of 3,670 square kilometres, has a population of 190,000.
Residents in Lincang City and Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna in the south of the province, about 200 kilometres and 300 kilometres from the epicentre respectively, have also felt the tremor. Further information is not immediately available.
Officials in charge of the rescue department of the China Earthquake Administration have rushed to the stricken area to join local rescue efforts. PTI
Brazilian President arrives in New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived here today on a three-day visit during which bilateral relations are expected to receive a major push.
Heading a 100-member delegation, including ministers and business leaders, Silva was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.
Silva will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here tomorrow on a wide range of issues, particularly covering business ties, energy cooperation and coordination of approach on various international issues.
India and Brazil work together under the framework of G-4 which is seeking UN reforms. The two countries also work closely in multilateral fora, including UN, WTO and G-20, besides cooperating under the framework of IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) group.
Some agreements will also be signed during the visit.
Silva, undertaking his second visit here in three years, will also meet President A P J Abdul Kalam, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of Opposition L K Advani and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Silva will also address the Indian captains of industry.
The bilateral trade has been increasing significantly in recent years, with Indian exports to Brazil last year being 1470 million dollars and imports 937 million dollars.
The Brazilian companies have started targeting India for investment and business in areas such as infrastructure, food processing and energy.
A number of Indian companies have made investment and joint ventures in Brazil. PTI
British Deputy PM admitted in hospital; condition stable
London, June 3 (PTI) Britain's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was admitted to hospital with a suspected chest infection.
69-year-old Prescott underwent a series of tests after feeling unwell, said doctors today adding his illness was not life-threatening.
"Prescott has been admitted to hospital. He is undergoing tests as a result of a suspected chest infection," said an issued statement from his office.
He became ill while traveling from his constituency in Hull to Kings Cross station in London by train.
In May, Prescott announced to step down as Labour's Deputy leader.
He is due to leave the office on June 27.
Last year, he was admitted to Castlehill hospital in Hull for the treatment of a kidney stone.
In 2002, it was announced he had Type 2 diabetes for many years, and had controlled it with medication. PTI
Argentine football coach beaten for not knowing Hindi
Srinagar (PTI) An Argentine coach, training young talent for last one month here at the request of Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, was allegedly beaten up by a CRPF personnel for not knowing Hindi language.
Juan Marcos, who holds FIFA license, said he had gone to local BSNL office to inquire about his internet connection when the CRPF personnel posted there roughed him up.
"I was pushed around and beaten up by the security forces personnel just because I could not speak Hindi. They thought I was a Kashmiri, who is pretending not to know Hindi," Marcos told PTI.
"The misbehaviour started when the security personnel asked me to leave my bag, containing my camera and travel documents, with them without any receipt," the coach said.
Marcos claimed he was detained by the CRPF personnel in a sand bunker and was allowed to go only after a senior officer came to his rescue.
"It does not matter whether I am a foreigner or a Kashmiri... How can they start beating up anybody without any reason? Just because they are in uniform and have a gun?" However, CRPF Spokesman Prabhakar Tripathy denied the allegations leveled by Marcos.
"No such incident took place. The coach mistakenly entered the wrong place... As he could not speak Hindi, an English speaking officer showed him the right way," he said adding that the Argentinian had left his visiting card with the officer as an evidence that he was not treated badly.
JKFA Secretary Bashir Ahmad said they had taken up the issue with the civil and police authorities so that the "erring" personnel were punished. "I do not know what impression he will take with him and how that would affect the tourism industry of the state," Ahmad added. PTI
The business of water
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, (PTI) As taps go dry a bit too soon and the mercury fluctuates its time for the packaged water industry to 'tap' the thirst market.
As various cities continue to bear with less supply of water through the local water bodies, the only option left for the consumer is to go in for packaged water.
"As per our study, the demand for water in Delhi is around 3,800 million litres per day while the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is able to provide only 2,100 million litres per day (after taking into account pilferage and supply losses) though they claim to provide more.
Hence, we see a gap of 1,700 million litres per day," says S V Suresh Babu of the Centre for Science and Environment. The CSE study shows a big gap in the demand and supply of water in Delhi.
"Metros usually have a huge floating population and hence there is added pressure on water supply," adds Babu.
"Total size of packaged drinking water business as per our study is estimated around Rs 1800 cr and is further poised to grow at around Rs 2,200 cr by 2010," says Balajith Shetty, Project Head, Manickchand Oxyrich, a brand of bottled water.
The expected growth in the market and increasing competition has seen new players entering the market and market stalwarts launching new variants.
Bisleri, which recently launched the 'Natural Mountain Water' is equally optimistic about the growth. "The growth prospect for this segment is unlimited," says Ramesh Chauhan, Chairman, Bisleri.
Sources in Kinley, another major player in the packaged water market and claiming to have over 22 per cent of market share says, "Majority of Kinley's market lies in the six metros ie Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore."
One of the main markets for every packaged water company is Chennai which witnesses huge consumption of bottled packaged water. It is estimated that there are times when the city has seen the sale of packaged water shooting up by nearly 10 lakh litres a day.
Chennai is known for the presence of small water packets that cost Rs 1 for 250 ml. These do brisk business and emerge as what is known as 'Water Lobby.'
Along with the packaged water sector, unorganised segments like private water tankers, roadside vendors are also raking in profits.
"Since the water supply is short, we depend on both the DJB as well as private water tankers says," Suman Pai, resident of B1 block, Vasant Kunj, one of the posh area of the capital and also witnessing one of the worst water shortage.
She adds, "This year DJB has been quick to our responses though at times we have to bribe the drivers with Rs 100 even though the entire procedure is supposed to be free." "We end up paying huge money to private water tankers the cost of which goes into few thousands," says G Gurumurthy, resident of Dwarka, which also witnesses water shortage.
Roadside water vendors selling a glass of water for Rs 50 paise found almost on every road in the capital are also happy with the rising heat.
"This cart can store nearly 500 litres of water and I end up selling around half of it. Summer is a good business time for us" says Raju Kumar, a vendor in Connaught Place.
With a harsher summer looming ahead, the water business segment is poised to see fierce competition. PTI
Upwardly mobile!
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, (PTI) For 58-year-old Ram Babu, who runs a small shop dealing with old newspapers and other scrap from residents in Dwarka, a satellite city on the outskirts of the capital, business has witnessed a considerable rise ever since he purchased a cell phone.
Babu, who previously cycled through the by-lanes of this rapidly developing suburb, frequently entering into arguments with security guards of the numerous housing societies there, life is a lot more comfortable now.
Now, he takes calls on his cell phone sitting comfortable in his tiny shed that has newspapers stacked in neat rows.
"I am happy because earlier I used to cover only five societies, but with the phone I am doing ten societies now. People call me on the phone and I have no problem with the security guards as they are instructed to let me in, says Babu with a smile.
With prices of handsets dipping and tariffs becoming more affordable, even those in the lower income bracket are buying mobiles. Be it the next door 'chaiwala,' the 'dhobi,' the milkman, the 'sabziwallah' or the canteen boy, all sport the ubiquitous instrument.
Deepak Gupta, who lives in Ber Sarai and is preparing for civil services exams, says, "my sweeper is a busy guy. He works in 10-15 buildings and if you need him, you have to call him on his mobile." "I save lot of time because of this mobile. Now there is no need to go in every house looking for work. I have circulated my number to every household and they call me in advance, if there is work," says Vinod, a sweeper. PTI
After TV, its over to high definition movies
Annie Samson
New Delhi(PTI) Hindi film 'Dharam' that had its worldwide premiere at the Cannes Film Festival recently claims the honour of being the first in the country to have been shot exclusively on High Definition, a technology that might herald a new chapter for Indian cinema, with its capacity to cut costs and counter piracy.
"This is the first time a full-length Bollywood film has been shot entirely using Hi-Definition technology," says S Nallamuthu, the film's Photography Director.
With a storyline revolving around religion and starring the husband-wife duo of Pankaj Kapoor and Supriya Pathak, the film was shown in the closing section of the international film festival under the 'Cinemas of the World' section.
"The film was selected at Cannes because it was of international technical quality, Nallamuthu, or 'Nalla' to his friends, told PTI.
High-end video camera is an expensive camera and not easily available in India, says Nallamuthu adding that the technology is new in the country and there are only very limited facilities available for post-production and conversion.
"Most international channels such as National Geographic and Discovery programmes are done using the Hi Definition format," he says.
The technology can drastically cut down costs and act as an effective counter for piracy. "The entire film has been shot on video format and everything done on the camera itself. You can see the colour and quality of the film has been adjusted on the camera thus minimising the need for retakes," he says. PTI
Code violation complaint against Sanjay Nirupam filed
Panaji, Jun 3 (PTI) The Goa chief electoral officer's office has complained to the Election Commission against Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam for violation of election code of conduct on the polling day, June two.
The polling for Goa assembly was held on June two.
Nirupam, a Maharashtra based leader, who was in the state to canvass for the Congress, was found around a polling booth in North Goa's Santa Cruz constituency.
The Election Commission had asked all the central leaders, who were in Goa campaign for their respective political parties, to leave the state 48 hours before the polling starts.
The joint chief electoral officer K B Surjuse, in a complaint to the Election Commission, has sent a video CD showing Nirupam in St Cruz constituency.
"He was also found using mobile within 100 metres of polling booth which is banned by the Commission," Surjuse has mentioned in the complaint. The Goa Joint CEO has mentioned that Nirupam was traced by the commission's mobile team which was going around to check violations.
"His presence was captured on camera and Nirupam sped away in his car after noticing the officials," Surjuse has said in the written complaint to secretary, Chief Election Commissioner.
St Cruz constituency, where the violation was noticed, is one of the sensitive constituencies in Goa where Congress' Victoria Fernandes is crossing swords with Jeniffer Monserratte, wife of controversial minister Atanasion Monserratte, who is in fray on United Goans Democratic party (UGDP) ticket. PTI
Sikkim Newsletter: Battle of political one-upmanship on in Sikkim
Alok Mishra
Gangtok(PTI) A battle of political one-upmanship is going on between the ruling SDF and a combined Opposition in Sikkim with the state government extolling its achievements from every possible forum and the Opposition hurling charges of corruption at it in a bid to undo the hype.
Be it Ambedkar Jayanti or the state day or any other similar occasion, the Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, doesn't let go of the slightest opportunity to flaunt his achievements.
His speeches always revolve around a few pet topics capable of earning him brownie points with the masses such as the opening of the Nathula Pass for border trade with China last year, the empowerment of women or devolution of major powers to the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state.
After talking about the achievements of the past he moves on to disclose his plans for the future such as marketing Sikkim's floricultural produce in the international market or putting the state on the international tourism map.
However, the Opposition invariably barges in on the scene with its allegations about corruption and misrule against the government to ensure that the people don't get carried away by the latter's 'high-flown rhetoric' on development. PTI
Gujarat Newsletter: NCP keen to form pre-poll alliance with Cong
Parag Dave
Ahmedabad, May 29 (PTI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is keen to form a pre-poll alliance with the Congress for the Gujarat assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year.
The Congress on the other hand is keeping card close to its chest on the issue.
"NCP is willing to form an alliance of secular parties with the Congress for Gujarat elections," Civil Aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel told PTI over phone from New Delhi.
"Though we have not begun any sort of negotiations with the Congress on the issue but we are keen to have a pre-poll alliance," Patel added.
State Congress president Bharat Solanki when contacted on the issue of alliance said, "We do have alliance at the national level. But nothing is fixed at the state level so far".
Some of the Congressmen though are opposing such a alliance saying that the party would waste seats if they have pre-poll alliance with the NCP.
Congress leader Balwant Manvar, who was earlier with the state NCP said, "The Sharad Pawar party has no say in the state. Seat sharing agreement with them will be a wastage of seats for the Congress". PTI
Karnataka Newsletter: Bureaucrats at receiving end in Karnataka
M Siddaraju
Bangalore (PTI) Bureaucrats in Karnataka, grappling with coalition politics, are at the receiving end of a peculiar blame game with rulers holding them responsible for "non-development," not being responsive and subjecting them to constant attacks.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy who leads the JDS-BJP coalition government, the second dispensation to rule the state in three years, has himself been pouring scorn on the bureaucrats, blaming them for not keeping pace with his speed.
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa of BJP, who is billed to succeed Kumaraswamy in early October under the power sharing pact is also not to be left behind in echoing similar views.
Even the ministers of the coalition, be it from JDS or BJP have not spared the bureacracy.
In an angry outburst, the chief minister said the administrative system lacked a "human face" and targetted the IAS officials for their "lakadaisical approach" which he said had added to the misery of people.
"These officials want annual salary increase and immediate implementation of pay commission recommendations. After all, what does an IAS officer do except seeing 5 to 10 files a day" he had asked at a function.
At another function in Raichur district, the chief minister again turned the heat on bureaucracy, saying, "one cannot expect development from IAS officials who play golf and sit in AC rooms. What do these people know about the plight of the rural people".
Majority of the ministers in the JDS-BJP combine are new comers to administration. PTI
Orissa Newsletter:Little celebration as Orissa CM completes year three, 2nd term
P K Das
Bhubaneswar (PTI) When chief minister Naveen Patnaik, completed the third year of his second term in office recently, there was little celebration.
The Patnaik regime's second term---he is the only non-Congress chief minister to have won back-to-back assembly polls in Orissa---has been eventful with a slew of MoUs signed with various companies for establishment of steel, aluminium and power plants with the proposed investment touching a mammoth Rs 4,00,000 crore.
But the slow progress on the ground and the problems besetting the showpiece Rs 52,000 crore steel plant of the south Korean POSCO at Paradip had been bothering the government.
The government, however claims that 24 steel mills of various sizes have already gone into production. The chief minister definitely would like to see the Posco and other major projects too going into production so that they could be listed as big achievements before the next polls, said a senior BJD leader.
This will be a strong weapon to fend off the anti-incumbency factor, he added. PTI
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